River Bend Prairie and Land & Lakes No 1 & 2 Landfills - Dolton, Illinois Solid Waste Landfill

River Bend Prairie and Land & Lakes No 1 & 2 Landfills is a solid waste landfill facility located in Dolton, Cook County, Illinois, United States. The facility is operational and handles municipal solid waste for the region, situated in a densely populated area south of Chicago. As a landfill, it plays a key role in the waste management infrastructure of northeastern Illinois. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the US Environmental Protection Agency's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle D, which governs municipal solid waste landfills. It must comply with Clean Air Act requirements for landfill gas management, including gas collection and control systems to reduce methane emissions. Leachate management systems are also required to protect groundwater resources in the region. The landfill's location in Cook County places it within a major urban and industrial corridor, where waste generation is high. Proper operation and environmental monitoring are critical to minimize impacts on nearby communities and the environment. The facility contributes to regional waste disposal capacity and supports public health through regulated waste containment.

The landfill is situated in the Chicago metropolitan area, where groundwater resources are a key concern due to the region's glacial till and shallow aquifers. Leachate management is critical to prevent groundwater contamination. Landfill gas, primarily methane, must be collected and flared or utilized to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and comply with Clean Air Act regulations. Proximity to residential areas also necessitates careful management of odor, traffic, and litter.